Verbena plant named &#39;KLEVP12432&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Verbena  plant particularly distinguished by large red-purple flowers, high flower richness, very tolerant to powdery mildew, and continuous flowering, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Verbena sp.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEVP12432’

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, priority to and thebenefit of European Community Plant Variety Rights Application No.2013/1834, filed Jul. 3, 2013, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

A Community Plant Variety Rights application was filed in Europe on Jul.3, 2013, application number 2013/1834; a Plant Breeders Rightsapplication was filed in Switzerland on Jul. 19, 2013, applicationnumber 13-2897; and a Plant Breeders Rights application was filed inNorway on Aug. 5, 2013, application number 1311.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Verbena,botanically known as Verbena sp., and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEVP12432’. ‘KLEVP12432’ originated from across-pollination conducted in September 2008 in Sydney, Australiabetween the proprietary female Verbena variety ‘V 679’ (unpatented), andthe proprietary male Verbena variety ‘V 719’ (unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown for evaluation,where an individual plant designated ‘KLEVP12432’ was selected from thegroup of plants in Cobitty, NSW, Australia in September 2008.

In September 2008 ‘KLEVP12432’ was first vegetatively propagated byvegetative cuttings in Cobitty, NSW, Australia. ‘KLEVP12432’ was foundto reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexualpropagation via vegetative cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Large red-purple flowers;

2. High flower richness;

3. Very tolerant to powdery mildew; and

4. Continuous flowering.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, andflowers. The photograph is of a tray of two to three-month-old plantsgrown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2012. The colorsshown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEVP12432’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on three-month-old plants grownin a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in February 2014. Color referencesare to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society ofLondon (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2005).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Verbenaceae.        -   Botanical.—Verbena sp.        -   Common.—Verbena.        -   Designation.—‘KLEVP12432’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary verbena variety ‘V 679’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary male verbena variety ‘V 719’            (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Growth and branching habit.—Upright.        -   Height (from top of soil).—25.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—25.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 8            weeks.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—3 weeks.        -   Root description.—White.-   Stems:    -   -   Number of branches per plant.—More than 10.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-upright.        -   Length.—15.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 2.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 130D.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Texture and appearance.—Pubescence, round.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Immature and mature leaf color.—Upper surface: RHS 141A            Lower surface: RHS 141C.        -   Length.—2.5 cm.        -   Width.—1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery Lower surface: Rugose.        -   Venation type.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 141D.        -   Petioles.—Length: 1.0 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Color: RHS 141D            Texture: Leathery.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Tall, cylindrical.        -   Length.—0.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Color (at tight bud).—RHS 67C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuously.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—2 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel.        -   Length of inflorescence.—6.0 cm.        -   Diameter of inflorescence.—6.0 cm.        -   Number of florets per inflorescence.—More than 15.        -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 141A Length: 4.0 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm.-   Florets:    -   -   Length.—2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—4.0 cm.        -   Texture.—Glossy.        -   Form.—Umbel.        -   Length.—0.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—4.0 cm.        -   Color.—Immature: Upper surface: RHS 67A Lower surface: RHS            67B Mature: Upper surface: RHS 67B Lower surface: RHS 67C.        -   Corolla tube length.—0.2 cm.        -   Corolla tube color.—RHS 67C.        -   Petals.—Length of lobe: 2.0 cm Diameter of lobe: 2.0 cm Lobe            shape: Round Apex: Acute Base: Obtuse Margin: Entire Texture            (both upper and lower surfaces): Glossy, satiny.        -   Pedicels.—Length: Less than 1.0 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Color:            RHS 67C Texture and appearance: Hairy, dull Arrangement:            Round.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 141C.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Hairy, dull.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Present.        -   Quantity.—Numerous.        -   Filament length.—0.1 cm.        -   Filament diameter.—Less than 0.1 cm.        -   Anther.—Shape: Elliptic Color: RHS 141D Length: Less than            0.1 cm Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm.        -   Pollen amount.—Absent.        -   Pistils.—Number: 1 Length: 1.0 cm Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm            Stigma: Color: RHS 141D Appearance: Ovate Length: Less than            0.1 cm Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm Style: Color: RHS 141D            Length: 0.2 cm Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm Appearance: Long.        -   Fruit and seed set.—None observed.        -   Disease and pest/insect resistance.—Good tolerance against            powdery mildew, very good weather resistance.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEVP12432’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Variety Female parent Male ParentCharacteristic ‘KLEVP12432’ ‘V 679’ ‘V 719’ Flower richness High MediumMedium Vigor Slow Slow Medium

‘KLEVP12432’ is most similar to the commercial verbena Vepita ‘DarkMagenta’ (patent status unknown). Differences between the varieties aredescribed in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial lineCharacteristic ‘KLEVP12432’ Vepita ‘Dark Magenta’ Flowering size BigSmaller than ‘KLEVP12432’ Resistance to Very tolerant Sensitive powderymildew Flowering habit Continuously flowering Flowering withinterruptions

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant designated‘KLEVP12432’ as shown and described herein.